There is no confirmation on whether she is still a part of the Albuquerque Police Department. On the night of Oct. 21, 2007, the lives of one couple from Los Lunas, New Mexico were changed forever. THE DEFENSE REVEALED TERA CALLED AT LEAST EIGHT NUMBERS ON THAT LIST-- INCLUDING HEATHER IN SEPTEMBER 2007. Chavez was placed on leave at the police department where he worked and eventually, on April 7, 2011, he was arrested and charged with his wifes murder, KOAT reported. After more than 10 hours of deliberations, a jury acquitted Levi Chavez, 32, of murdering of his wife, 26-year-old Tera Chavez, in 2007 and trying to make the hairdresser's death look like a suicide. Levi Chavez and Tera Chavez. Levi Chavez Now: Where Is Tera Chavez's Husband Today? It appears that his wife, now known as Heather Chavez, is a detective with the Farmington Police Department. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of KOAT-TV. But, in the end, after two days of deliberation, because of a lack of physical evidence linking him to Teras death, or something that even concretely proved that it was a homicide, Levi, who was facing life in prison, was acquitted of all charges. According to reports, an Albuquerque, New Mexico police officer Levi Chaves was suspected of shooting and murdering his 26-year-old wife, Tera Chavez, with his issued service gun after investigators reportedly presumed that he attempted to cover up the crime as a suicide. NBCs Dateline: The Officers Wife examines the mind-boggling case of Tera Chavezs passing, who was found shot to death on October 21, 2007, on her bed, in the home that she shared with her Albuquerque Police Department officer husband, Levi Chavez. 'I took her for granted.'. Her twin brother described her as a strong woman and a loving mother. Farm Heroes Saga, the #4 Game on iTunes. During his trial, he was found not guilty of first-degree murder and was acquitted of the charges. City questions prominent non-profit's hire of ex-cop who was - KRQE The following article appeared on page C1 of the Friday, June 28, 2013, edition of the Albuquerque Journal. During his testimony last week, Chavez frequently broke down and had to take breaks when he recounted his ill treatment of his late wife throughout their marriage. As week three of the Levi Chavez murder trial wound down prosecutors started playing up another possible motive for him to kill his wife Tera. Dateline Unforgettable Does Tera Chavez Case: What To Know | Crime News After more than 10 hours of deliberations, a jury acquitted Levi Chavez, 32, of murdering of his wife, 26-year-old Tera Chavez, in 2007 and trying to make the hairdresser's death look like a . That case is scheduled to be heard in state District Court in Bernalillo County and has been on hold while the criminal trial was held. 'I'm going to go to church, pray my Rosary and thank my Virgin Mary,' Chavez said as he was crowded by reporters. The records also show that following the end of the shift at midnight, the phone was in the far Northeast Heights, near the home of a fellow APD officer with whom Chavez was having an affair. Serna on Thursday spent two and a half hours cross-examining Citizen. Powered by. Jones was one of the first officers on the scene and a lead detective on the case. Chavez still faces a wrongful death lawsuit from the family of Tera Chavez. Chavez still faces a wrongful death lawsuit from the family of Tera Chavez. Levi was engaged to Heather Hindi two months after Tera died and married a few months later, according to PEOPLE. A former cop was acquitted on Tuesday of killing his depressed wife with his department-issued gun after a month-long trial that has revealed secrets of affairs and alleged corruption within an Albuquerque police force. Heavy reached out to UNM for additional information about Chavezs admission status; however, we did not receive a response by press time. On the 911 call, Levi Chavez can be heard crying and saying Please tell them to hurry! Her death was ruled a suicide by the medical examiner, but investigators began thinking it might have been a homicide and the cause of death was changed to undetermined, PEOPLE reported. He told the 911 operator, Please tell them to hurry! and said shed committed suicide, PEOPLE reported. YouTubeLevi Chavezs second wife Heather testifying during the trial. "There never was a case against Levi Chavez," Serna said. Prosecutor Bryan McKay, who told jurors during closing arguments that Chavez used his department-issued gun to commit "cold-blooded, calculated, planned-out murder," declined to comment after the verdict. Following the verdict, emotional family members of Tera Chavez were quickly escorted out of Sandoval District Court, the result of an edict from state District Judge George Eichwald who sought to ease tensions between the two families. Bernalillo County deputy involved in rollover crash in Northeast Albuquerque, Where does medical cannabis go from here? Tera Chavez Death: Why Parents Believe Death Was Not A Suicide | Crime News Levi Chavez, ex-New Mexico police officer, acquitted of wife's murder 'He took one more breath and that's it': Mother describes Ex-marine father murdered wife and 17-month-old son before Pennsylvania woman gets life for stabbing her fianc to Isabel Oakeshott receives 'menacing' message from Matt Hancock, Dozens stuck in car park as staff refuses to open gate for woman, Incredible footage of Ukrainian soldiers fighting Russians in Bakhmut, Pro-Ukrainian drone lands on Russian spy planes exposing location, 'Buster is next!' Heres what you need to know about Tera Chavezs death: Levi Chavez said he came home on October 22, 2007, and found his wife dead from a gunshot wound from his service weapon, PEOPLE wrote. The trial revealed a crumbling marriage that was. In the 6-week-long court hearing, there were testimonies from police officers, pathologists, the women Levi had affairs with, as well as Teras family. She loved hard. THE TEXTS DIDN'T STOP THERE ANOTHER, ABOUT A MONTH LATER, FROM HEATHER TO LEVI SAYING HE WAS HER REASON TO EXIST. Josh Mankiewicz reports. Levi Chavez, right, a former Albuquerque police officer, gets a congratulatory hug from his attorney David Serna on Tuesday, July 16, 2013, in Bernalillo, N.M., after a jury acquitted him of murder and tampering with evidence charges in the 2007 death of his estranged wife, Tera Chavez. Serna said he doubted that Chavez would want return to the state's largest police department. The Officer's Wife When police officer Levi Chavez finds his wife, Tera, shot to death in their home, an investigation into her murder begins as buried secrets are revealed. He finally went on trial for the allegations brought against him in 2013, a full two years after the charges were first brought. [2] In August 2013, Chavez was acquitted of the murder charges. That case is scheduled to be heard in state District Court in Bernalillo County and has been on hold while the criminal trial was held. Watch Dateline Episode: The Officer's Wife - NBC.com It appears that his wife, now known as Heather Chavez, is a detective with the Farmington Police Department. Levi Chavez is a former Albuquerque, NM Police Officer who was charged with the 2007 death of his 26yearold wife, Tera Chavez. Aug 19, 2008 . Her husband Levi Chavez, a police officer with the Albuquerque Police Department, was the one who called 911 and told them shed committed suicide. / CBS News. Levi Chavez Was Charged With His Wife's Murder Years Later & His New Wife & Mistresses Testified As mentioned, Levi Chavez was charged with her murder in April 2011, but it took another. Levi Chavez takes the stand in murder of his ex wife Powered by WordPress.com VIP. 'This was a made up pile of lies from the beginning and it took the jury approximately 10 hours to find that out.'. Chavez discovered his wife dead, with a gunshot wound to the mouth upon returning home on October 22, 2007. The interview between Levi Chavez and former Valencia County Sheriff's Detective Aaron Jones was recorded shortly after deputies found Tera Chavez at the couple's home, dead from a gunshot . However, after several suspicions, connections, and autopsy reports were drawn, investigators and the victim's family accused the officer of allegedly shooting and murdering Tera Chavez in the bed of their Los Lunas home. 2023 by Fashionuer. Thats also where she was working on Oct. 8, 2007, the first time she met Levi Chavez face-to-face, according to her testimony. However, things began turning around for the mother of two when she began making plans to leave her husband and open a salon of her own, her family said. Reportedly, he is married to APD Detective Heather, who was also present throughout the trial. But on direct examination by Bryan McKay, senior trial attorney for the 13th Judicial District Attorneys Office, Garley testified that she also went to the home the Chavezes had shared at 11 Ash Place on the weekend of Nov. 11 and 12, 2007. Levi Chavez's current wife takes the stand, Current wife insists she never spoke with Tera Chavez. Jones also told her that Levi Chavez had numerous affairs while he was married to Tera, but according to Keeners characterization of Heather Chavezs previous statements, she wasnt interested. Katrina Garley testified that she met Levi Chavez when he walked into the Verizon cellphone store in Los Lunas to buy a phone in early October 2007. As mentioned, Levi Chavez was charged with her murder in April 2011, but it took another two years for the case to go to court due to a series of motion hearings, civil trials and a change of venue for the trial, KOAT reported. He pulled up the call history for the officer on his patrol computer and found it was a car assigned to Levi . In all likelihood, Chavezs cellphone was turned off between 12:27 a.m. and 3:32 p.m. on Oct. 21, 2007, said Jody Citizen, a senior analyst for the Verizon Wireless companys legal department. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Dateline: The Officer's Wife - Truth, Justice, and All-American With the departure of our son, Jorge Levi Chavez, to eternity, I write that he was not a son from the womb but from the. A month after Tera Chavezs death, her husband was placed on leave at the Albuquerque Police Department as the investigation into her death continued, KOAT reported. Some extra notes, quotes, news and notes from the Lobos Friday night basketball game in Fort Collins, Colorado. After Garleys testimony, Serna and Keener argued for more than 45 minutes outside the presence of the jury about which of the cellphone data examined by an FBI analyst should be shown to the jury. On July 5, 2008, half of the desire she expressed in the text came true. ", As the murder case gained more attention from the media and public, Chavez and the Albuquerque Police Department became the targets of heavy scrutiny. THE WOMEN NEVER DID MEET. Asked if he would try to get his old job back with the Albuquerque Police Department, Chavez blurted out a date but declined to say what that date meant. Please logout and login again. He immediately called the police, who, looking at the crime scene, ruled it suicide. (AP) BERNALILLO, New Mexico - The monthlong criminal trial and all its salacious stories of law officer affairs and a blundering investigation are over, but a civil trial looms for a former Albuquerque policeman acquitted of killing his depressed wife with his department-issued gun. Current wife insists she never spoke with Tera Chavez Recommended Stories CinemaBlend Viral TikTok Shows Off Moment JLo's Face Filter Fails And Some Of Her Wrinkles Are Exposed Jennifer Lopez. when did the romantic relationship start? . Following a couple of years of preparation, he applied to be a lawyer and was accepted into the University of New Mexico Law School, entering class of 2016, where he apparently specialized in criminal law. Chavez was eventually charged with first-degree murder and obstructing justice, responding to which he entered a not guilty plea and, to date, asserts his innocence. Your login session has expired. Her relationship with Chavez started when he was still married to Marisabel. Jones showed Heather Chavez crime scene photos from Teras death scene and told her people were worried about her. Detective Jones, who suspected that Levi Chavez had murdered his wife eighteen to twenty hours before he . Asked if he would try to get his old job back with the Albuquerque Police Department, Chavez blurted out a date but declined to say what that date meant. Episode Website More Episodes 2019 NBC News Top Podcasts In True Crime See All In March 2020, Nob Hill mainstay Zinc Wine Bar & Bistro closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A A. Levi Chavez, an ex-New Mexico police officer, was acquitted Tuesday in the 2007 murder of his estranged wife, but could still face a wrongful death civil lawsuit. The former police officer, graduating with a law degree, serves in a non-profit company known as Heading Home and assists the organization in its fight against homelessness in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Valencia County sheriffs initially ruled the death as a suicide due to the "close proximity of the gun to the body. The official synopsis of the episode says. Then, on April 7, 2011, the police officer was charged with Tera Chavezs murder, arrested and fired from his job with the police department, KOAT wrote. Meanwhile, in the courtroom, Chavez and family gathered to pray a "Hail Mary" until Serna grabbed Chavez by the arm to escort him through a crowded pathway of supporters and family members. Where Is Levi Chavez Now? - The Cinemaholic In July 2013, after a month-long trial, the verdict from the jury came in: not guilty. Bernalillo County deputy involved in rollover crash in Northeast A Bernalillo County deputy was reportedly A Bernalillo County deputy was reportedly not injured after their vehicle rolled in a two-vehicle crash Saturday morning in Northeast Albuquerque. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. We always thought, Hell take care of her.'. Reportedly, he is married to APD Detective Heather, who was also present throughout the trial. He will face a much higher judge upon his death and he wont have a slick as ownsh*t jew loyah to bamboozle the jury. Play it now! "What did I tell you?" . Copyright 2022 by Fashionuer. Levi Chavez was working at the Albuquerque Animal Welfare Department when he was arrested in 2011, but it wasnt until two years later, in 2013, that he stood trial for the charges against him. 'To say I blamed myself is an understatement,' he said. Levi started working for Heading Home in 2015. However, Chavez said his wife's death later helped him reform his philandering ways and he later married another police officer two months after his wife's death. State District Judge George P. Eichwald instructed the two to Quit arguing back and forth like kids.. Throughout the trial, Levi Chavez steadfastly asserted his innocence and continues to do so. Theyve long been appreciated for their Sign up for our daily newsletter and get the best of fashionuer in your in-box. "If we had a smoking gun, I would say it was the unseated magazine," said Arthur Ortiz, a longtime New Mexico lawman,. Levi Chavezs current wife takes the stand, Current wife insists she never spoke with Tera Chavez, WEBVTT IN DAY 14 OF THE LEVI CHAVEZ TRIAL, HIS CURRENT WIFE, A-P-D OFFICER HEATHER CHAVEZ TAKES THE STAND. Her family said they knew there was trouble in the relationship and they had heard Levi Chavez was cheating on his wife, Alibi reported. Levi Chavez sues detective over murder investigation - KRQE Be the first one to comment on this story. On redirect examination, Assistant District Attorney Anne Keener asked only one question. BERNALILLOTwenty-four days after Levi Chavez called 911 to say his wife had shot herself in the head, a text message popped up on his cellphone suggesting that a new marriage wasn't far off.. Levi Chavez's current wife testifies - Albuquerque Journal Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. [1] [2] Levi was initially charged with murdering his wife with his police issued Glock and making it appear as a suicide. Shed never leave them of her own will. BREAKING: Former APD officer Levi Chavez back in jail: A Valencia County judge has sent Levi Chavez back to jail after a hearing on Wednesday. Levi Chavez. Former APD officer Levi Chavez is accused of killing his wife Tera. Chavezs bio states that hes the emergency housing director at the Westside Emergency Housing Center. The lawsuit against Jones was dismissed in 2018. Under often-contentious cross-examination by Assistant District Attorney Anne Keener that bordered on combative, Heather Chavez conceded that October 2007 wasnt the first time she had ever spoken to Levi Chavez. BERNALILLO, N.M. The monthlong criminal trial and all its salacious stories of law officer affairs and a blundering investigation are over, but a civil trial looms for a former Albuquerque policeman acquitted of killing his depressed wife with his department-issued gun. Now that he has graduated, instead of being a practicing attorney, Levi works at a non-profit organization called Heading Home, which spearheads the campaign to eradicate homelessness in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She said she knew Tera had died and Levi Chavez told her the couples two children were home that weekend. In August 2013, Chavez was acquitted of the murder charges. She testified this morning that she is currently assigned to the APD Crimes Against Children Unit. According to the prosecution, she was on the verge of filing a complaint against him for fraudulent activity. The court also heard that Hindi had been texting Levi Chavez just three weeks after his wifes death and suggesting that the two get married. He told the operator she killed herself and that he hadnt said anything because He thought she needed time.. She loved strong., READ NEXT: Social Media Influencer Set on Fire & Killed by Ex-Husband, Family Says, Tera Chavezs Death: Levi Chavez Was Charged With Murdering His Wife, Please review our privacy policy here: https://heavy.com/privacy-policy/, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. The exchange led to several objections from Levi Chavezs lawyer, David Serna, and eventually devolved into a full-blown shouting match between Serna and Keener. Former police officer acquitted of wife's murder | Local News Chavez was accepted at the University of New Mexico Law School and began studying for his degree in 2016, where he specialized in criminal law, according to Cinemaholic. WE ALSO LEARNED FRIDAY THAT HEATHER-WENT TO TERA CHAVEZ'S FUNERAL. Im innocent. Levi Chavez. did you ever go to the address on ash place? He and his defense attorney, David Serna, maintain that Tera shot herself with Levis Glock 9 mm. The OTHER side of the law: Former Albuquerque police officer Levi Chavez seen here in his mugshot after allegedly murdering his wife. In October of 2007, Tera, a mother of two, allegedly shot and killed herself at the couple's home while their children were at a family member's house. He had come to the CACU office to schedule a time to shadow Heather, according to her testimony, meaning she would show him the ropes of detective work in the unit. The call did not go to voicemail. Witnesses also described a workplace where interoffice romance was rampant and said both Levi and Tera Chavez had affairs with members of the police force. Guitarist Ottmar Liebert bringing his unique blend of music Ottmar Liebert and his band Luna Negra will perform with the New Mexico Philharmonic at Popejoy Hall on Saturday, March 11.
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